Black unemployment is at least twice as high as white unemployment at the national level and in 12 states and D.C.: The highest African American unemployment rate is in the District of Columbia at 12.4 percent, while the highest white unemployment rate is in West Virginia at 5.0 percent

In the third quarter of 2018, African American workers had the highest unemployment rate nationally, at 6.3 percent, followed by Hispanic (4.5 percent), white (3.2 percent), and Asian workers (3.0 percent).1

This report provides a state-by-state breakdown of unemployment rates by race and ethnicity, and racial/ethnic unemployment rate gaps for the third quarter of 2018. While there have been state-by-state improvements in prospects for black and Hispanic workers, their unemployment rates remain high relative to those of white workers. Following are some key highlights of the report:

While the African American unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 18 states (of the 21 states and the District of Columbia for which these data are available), in 12 states and the District of Columbia, African American unemployment rates exceed white unemployment rates by a ratio of 2.0-to-1 or higher.

The District of Columbia has a black–white unemployment rate ratio of 6.2-to-1, while Illinois and Louisiana have the highest ratios among states (3.0-to-1 and 2.8-to-1, respectively).

The highest African American unemployment rate is in the District of Columbia (12.4 percent), followed by Illinois (9.3 percent), Louisiana (8.5 percent), Alabama (7.1 percent), and New York (7.0 percent). The highest Hispanic state unemployment rate is in Nebraska (5.9 percent), followed by Connecticut (5.7 percent), Arizona (5.6 percent), Pennsylvania (5.6 percent), and Washington (5.6 percent). Meanwhile, the highest white state unemployment rate is 5.0 percent, in West Virginia.

The Hispanic unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 15 states (of the 17 states for which these data are available). There are two states in which the Hispanic unemployment rate is equal to or lower than the white rate (Colorado, 0.8-to-1, and Georgia, 0.9-to-1).

The largest gaps between Hispanic and white unemployment rates are in Nebraska (3.0-to-1), Idaho (1.9-to-1), and Virginia (1.9-to-1).

Background

In September 2018, the national unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, down from 4.0 percent at the end of the second quarter of 2018.2 State unemployment rates in September ranged from a low of 2.2 percent in Hawaii to 6.5 percent in Alaska.3 According to a previous EPI analysis of unemployment by state, from June to September 2018, 31 states saw their unemployment rates decline, 16 states and the District of Columbia saw unemployment rates rise, and three states saw no change.4

State unemployment rates, by race and ethnicity

EPI analyzes state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity, and racial/ethnic unemployment rate gaps, on a quarterly basis to generate a sample size large enough to create reliable estimates of unemployment rates by race and ethnicity at the state level. We only report estimates for states for which the sample size of these subgroups is large enough to create an accurate estimate. For this reason, the number of states included in our map and data tables varies based on the analysis performed (unemployment rate, change in unemployment rate since the fourth quarter of 2007, and ratio of African American or Hispanic unemployment rate to white unemployment rate).

Trends among white workers

In the third quarter of 2018, the white unemployment rate was lowest in Hawaii (1.2 percent) and highest in West Virginia (5.0 percent), as shown in the interactive map and underlying data table, which present state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity. This is the second consecutive quarter in which Hawaii had the lowest white unemployment rate.

Interactive Map

State unemployment rates, by race/ethnicity and overall, 2018Q3

State

All

White

Black

Hispanic

Asian

Alabama

4.1%

2.9%

7.1%

NA

NA

Alaska

6.7%

4.4%

NA

NA

NA

Arizona

4.6%

3.5%

NA

5.6%

NA

Arkansas

3.6%

3.0%

6.7%

NA

NA

California

4.2%

3.3%

6.4%

4.9%

3.4%

Colorado

2.9%

2.9%

NA

2.3%

NA

Connecticut

4.3%

3.3%

NA

5.7%

NA

Delaware

3.9%

3.0%

6.6%

NA

NA

Washington D.C.

5.6%

2.0%

12.4%

3.4%

NA

Florida

3.6%

2.9%

6.1%

3.6%

3.3%

Georgia

3.8%

3.0%

5.9%

2.8%

1.4%

Hawaii

2.1%

1.2%

NA

NA

1.7%

Idaho

2.8%

2.4%

NA

4.7%

0.9%

Illinois

4.1%

3.1%

9.3%

3.9%

4.6%

Indiana

3.5%

3.2%

5.4%

NA

NA

Iowa

2.5%

2.3%

NA

NA

NA

Kansas

3.3%

2.8%

NA

NA

NA

Kentucky

4.4%

4.2%

NA

NA

NA

Louisiana

5.0%

3.1%

8.5%

4.6%

NA

Maine

3.2%

2.8%

NA

NA

NA

Maryland

4.2%

3.1%

6.3%

NA

NA

Massachusetts

3.6%

3.4%

3.8%

5.6%

2.7%

Michigan

4.1%

3.8%

6.8%

NA

NA

Minnesota

2.9%

2.5%

NA

NA

NA

Mississippi

4.8%

3.4%

7.0%

NA

NA

Missouri

3.3%

2.9%

NA

NA

NA

Montana

3.7%

3.2%

NA

NA

NA

Nebraska

2.8%

2.0%

NA

5.9%

NA

Nevada

4.5%

3.9%

NA

4.8%

3.2%

New Hampshire

2.7%

2.6%

NA

NA

NA

New Jersey

4.2%

3.7%

6.5%

4.6%

3.7%

New Mexico

4.6%

3.7%

NA

4.4%

NA

New York

4.2%

3.7%

7.0%

5.1%

2.1%

North Carolina

3.9%

3.4%

5.1%

5.3%

NA

North Dakota

2.6%

1.9%

NA

NA

NA

Ohio

4.6%

4.2%

6.9%

NA

NA

Oklahoma

3.7%

3.1%

NA

3.3%

NA

Oregon

3.8%

3.5%

NA

4.7%

NA

Pennsylvania

4.1%

3.7%

6.7%

5.6%

3.2%

Rhode Island

4.0%

3.6%

NA

5.2%

NA

South Carolina

3.4%

2.3%

6.2%

NA

NA

South Dakota

3.0%

2.2%

NA

NA

NA

Tennessee

3.6%

3.1%

6.0%

NA

NA

Texas

3.9%

2.9%

5.7%

4.5%

3.4%

Utah

3.1%

2.9%

NA

4.1%

NA

Vermont

2.8%

2.7%

NA

NA

NA

Virginia

3.0%

2.5%

3.8%

4.9%

0.7%

Washington

4.5%

4.0%

NA

5.6%

4.0%

West Virginia

5.3%

5.0%

NA

NA

NA

Wisconsin

3.0%

2.5%

NA

NA

NA

Wyoming

3.9%

3.4%

NA

NA

NA

Note: The map reports unemployment rates only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data

Table 1 displays changes in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from the fourth quarter of 2007—the last quarter before the Great Recession—to the third quarter of 2018. The white unemployment rate remained most elevated above its pre-recession level in Wyoming, at 0.8 percentage points higher than in the fourth quarter of 2007. The white unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 41 states. The largest declines in white unemployment since the end of 2007 have occurred in Hawaii (down 2.8 percentage points), Michigan (down 2.4 percentage points), Maine (down 2.0 percentage points), and Oregon (down 1.9 percentage points). The white unemployment rate is above but within 0.5 percentage points of its pre-recession level in seven states and the District of Columbia.

Table 1

Change in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from 2007Q4 to 2018Q3 (percentage points)

State

White

Black

Hispanic

Asian

United States

-0.8

-2.3

-1.4

-0.5

Alabama

-0.7

0.8

NA

NA

Alaska

-0.2

NA

NA

NA

Arizona

0.2

NA

-0.3

NA

Arkansas

-1.7

-2.2

NA

NA

California

-1.5

-3.6

-2.2

-1.4

Colorado

-0.6

NA

-3.0

NA

Connecticut

-0.2

NA

-2.5

NA

Delaware

0.0

1.7

NA

NA

District of Columbia

0.3

2.5

NA

NA

Florida

-1.1

-0.3

-2.2

NA

Georgia

-0.3

-2.2

-4.3

NA

Hawaii

-2.8

NA

NA

-0.8

Idaho

-0.6

NA

NA

NA

Illinois

-1.2

-3.0

-1.9

1.2

Indiana

-1.0

-6.1

NA

NA

Iowa

-1.1

NA

NA

NA

Kansas

-0.9

NA

NA

NA

Kentucky

-0.9

NA

NA

NA

Louisiana

0.7

-0.2

NA

NA

Maine

-2.0

NA

NA

NA

Maryland

0.2

0.7

NA

NA

Massachusetts

-1.2

NA

NA

NA

Michigan

-2.4

-8.8

NA

NA

Minnesota

-1.6

NA

NA

NA

Mississippi

-0.2

-3.3

NA

NA

Missouri

-1.7

NA

NA

NA

Montana

-0.5

NA

NA

NA

Nebraska

-0.7

NA

NA

NA

Nevada

-0.3

NA

-1.7

0.2

New Hampshire

-0.9

NA

NA

NA

New Jersey

-0.2

-2.0

-0.6

1.4

New Mexico

0.4

NA

-0.2

NA

New York

-0.1

-0.9

-2.0

-1.3

North Carolina

-0.6

-3.1

-1.1

NA

North Dakota

-0.2

NA

NA

NA

Ohio

-0.4

-6.7

NA

NA

Oklahoma

0.1

NA

NA

NA

Oregon

-1.9

NA

NA

NA

Pennsylvania

-0.5

-0.5

NA

NA

Rhode Island

-1.7

NA

-2.2

NA

South Carolina

-1.5

-4.9

NA

NA

South Dakota

0.2

NA

NA

NA

Tennessee

-1.4

-3.5

NA

NA

Texas

-0.5

-2.2

0.0

0.4

Utah

0.4

NA

0.2

NA

Vermont

-1.5

NA

NA

NA

Virginia

-0.5

-1.5

1.2

NA

Washington

-0.9

NA

-0.2

0.2

West Virginia

0.3

NA

NA

NA

Wisconsin

-1.7

NA

NA

NA

Wyoming

0.8

NA

NA

NA

Note: The table reports data only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data

Trends among African American workers

African American unemployment rate estimates are available for 22 states and the District of Columbia. Among states, the unemployment rate for African Americans was lowest in Massachusetts and Virginia (3.8 percent), and highest in Illinois (9.3 percent); in the District of Columbia, it was 12.4 percent. The District of Columbia also had the highest black unemployment rate during the previous eight quarters.

In the third quarter of 2018, of the 22 states with African American unemployment rate estimates, all had black unemployment rates below 10 percent; in 10 of these states, the rate was at or below the third-quarter national average for African American workers (6.3 percent).

As shown in Table 2, which displays the black–white and Hispanic–white unemployment rate ratios in the third quarter of 2018, Massachusetts had the smallest black–white rate gaps of the 22 states and the District of Columbia. Black unemployment in Massachusetts was only 1.1 times the white unemployment rate. Meanwhile, as in the previous eight quarters, the largest gap was in the District of Columbia, where the black unemployment rate was 6.2 times the white rate. The next highest unemployment ratios were in Illinois (3.0-to-1), Louisiana (2.8-to-1), South Carolina (2.7-to-1), and Alabama (2.4-to-1).

Table 2

Black–white and Hispanic–white state unemployment rate ratios, 2018Q3

State

Black–white ratio

Hispanic–white ratio

United States

2.0

1.4

Alabama

2.4

NA

Alaska

NA

NA

Arizona

NA

1.6

Arkansas

2.2

NA

California

2.0

1.5

Colorado

NA

0.8

Connecticut

NA

1.7

Delaware

2.2

NA

District of Columbia

6.2

1.7

Florida

2.1

1.2

Georgia

2.0

0.9

Hawaii

NA

NA

Idaho

NA

1.9

Illinois

3.0

1.2

Indiana

1.7

NA

Iowa

NA

NA

Kansas

NA

NA

Kentucky

NA

NA

Louisiana

2.8

1.5

Maine

NA

NA

Maryland

2.1

NA

Massachusetts

1.1

1.7

Michigan

1.8

NA

Minnesota

NA

NA

Mississippi

2.1

NA

Missouri

NA

NA

Montana

NA

NA

Nebraska

NA

3.0

Nevada

NA

1.2

New Hampshire

NA

NA

New Jersey

1.7

1.2

New Mexico

NA

1.2

New York

1.9

1.4

North Carolina

1.5

1.6

North Dakota

NA

NA

Ohio

1.7

NA

Oklahoma

NA

1.1

Oregon

NA

1.4

Pennsylvania

1.8

1.5

Rhode Island

NA

1.5

South Carolina

2.7

NA

South Dakota

NA

NA

Tennessee

1.9

NA

Texas

2.0

1.6

Utah

NA

1.4

Vermont

NA

NA

Virginia

1.5

1.9

Washington

NA

1.4

West Virginia

NA

NA

Wisconsin

NA

NA

Wyoming

NA

NA

Note: The table reports data only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data

The black unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2018 was at or below its pre-recession level in 18 states: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. (Data on the change in black unemployment over this period are available for 21 states and the District of Columbia.)

Trends among Hispanic workers

Hispanic unemployment rate estimates are available for 24 states and the District of Columbia, and data on the change in Hispanic unemployment rates since the fourth quarter of 2007 are available for 17 states. In the third quarter of 2018, among states, the Hispanic unemployment rate was highest in Nebraska (5.9 percent), Connecticut (5.7 percent), Arizona (5.6 percent), Pennsylvania (5.6 percent), and Washington (5.6 percent). The rate was lowest in Colorado (2.3 percent) and Georgia (2.8 percent).

The Hispanic unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 15 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. The Hispanic unemployment rate was most elevated above its pre-recession level in Virginia (1.2 percentage points).

In two states the Hispanic unemployment rate was lower than the white unemployment rate: Colorado (0.8-to-1) and Georgia (0.9-to-1). The ratio of Hispanic unemployment to white unemployment was highest in Nebraska (3.0-to-1), Idaho (1.9-to-1), and Virginia (1.9-to-1).

Trends among Asian workers

Asian unemployment rate estimates are available for 14 states, and data on the change in Asian unemployment rates since the fourth quarter of 2007 are available for eight states. The Asian unemployment rate was lowest in Virginia (0.7 percent) and highest in Illinois (4.6 percent). The Asian unemployment rate was at or below its pre-recession level in California, Hawaii, and New York. In five states the Asian unemployment rate was above its pre-recession level: New Jersey (1.4 percentage points higher), Illinois (1.2 percentage points higher), Texas (0.4 percentage points higher), Nevada (0.2 percentage points higher), and Washington (0.2 percentage points higher).

Methodology

The unemployment rate estimates in this report are based on the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and the Current Population Survey (CPS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The overall state unemployment rate is taken directly from the LAUS. CPS six-month ratios are applied to LAUS data to calculate the rates by race and ethnicity. For each state subgroup, we calculate the unemployment rate using the past six months of CPS data. We then find the ratio of this subgroup rate to the state unemployment rate using the same period of CPS data. This gives us an estimate of how the subgroup compares with the state overall.

While this methodology allows us to calculate unemployment-rate estimates at the state level by race and ethnicity by quarter, it is less precise at the national level than simply using the CPS. Thus, the national-level estimates may differ from direct CPS estimates.

In many states, the sample sizes of particular subgroups are not large enough to create accurate estimates of their unemployment rates. We report data only for groups that had, on average, a sample size of at least 700 in the labor force for each six-month period.

Endnotes

1. EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data.

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